Method of decorating metal



(No Model.)

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PATENT Ormes.

JOHN BAYNES, OF VVESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF DECORATlNG METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,420, dated February28, 1888.

Application filed Muy 21,1887. Serial No. 238.990. (No specimens.)

Beit known that I, JOHN BAYNES, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain,and a resident of Westchester county, New York, United Stat-es ofAmerica, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DecoratingMetal, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement; is intended to apply to all cases where portions of apreviously-plated surface are bitten by acid in the manner generallyknown as etching I have discovcred that a peculiar effect, highlyconducive tothe ornamental appearance, is induced by polishing with asoft surface, as a buff-wheel, so that the effect will be felt on theelevations and a little distance down into the depressions, thusrounding the corners 'or edges ot' the high parts, and ultimately1coating the whole with lacquer' and staining the whole or a portion ofthe surface.

l' will describe the invention as applied to the decoration ofwatch-backs.

The accompanying drawings form a part of thisspecitication and representwhat l consider thc best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a transverse section through a watch-baci; which has beenplated with gold or other metal and having a coating of resist dissolvedaway according to the iigures required. It is the condition ready forimmersion in the acid.v Fig. 2 shows the same immersed in the acid. Fig.3 shows a portion of the same on a larger scale after the biting by theacid has been completed and all the re inaining resist has been cleanedoff. Fig. 4 shows the saine watch-back in the act of being treated by asoft buftwhcel to polish the entire surface, which enters thedepressions, rounding or chanifcring thc edges thereof. Fig. 5 is asection of a portion on a larger scale, showing the condition induced inthe boundaries or edges of its several depressions by the action ofthebuff-wheel. Fig. 6 shows the same after a. uniform coating of lacquerhas been applied. Fig. 7 is a face view of the completed watclr back.

A is thc body of the mclalof the watch-back. c is a coating o1." gold orother metal thereon;

l, a partial coating of wax, bitumen, or other material or composition,which is capable of serving as a resistf for the acid.

l employ photography in producing the proper designs with the patches Bof resist, or with clear spaces left between them. Such are detailed ina patent to me dated August 7, 1883, No. 282,485, and is briey asfollows: A mixture of ninety per cent. of asphaltum with ten percent. ofgum-kauri is sufficienti y sen sitive to the action of light to beapracticable photographing medium. lt is also a resist for the ordinaryetching-acid. By coating the whole surface with a thin uniform layer ofthis resist, then exposing the surface to a strong light underanegativehaving the proper figure sharply defined for a sufficientperiod, C eight hours is prefcrable,) then a light washing with oil ofturpentine or benzole to remove all the unaffected parts will leave theportions where the light has struck still continuously coated with theresist. When the acid has bitten the metal sufficiently to bite throughthe plating a and also to some depth into the body A, the Whole isliberally washed with water, and the patches of resist B are removed bya suitable solvent, as oil of turpentine, and the entire metal surfacenally thoroughly cleaned. The etched or sunk portions c are roughened bythe action of the acid, and present a different appearance by reason ofthat fact. The snrface thus roughened also holds very tenacionsly thestaining material which is applied.

Vhen the etching and cleaning operations are completed, l apply theentire surface gently and skillfully to a rapidlyrevolving mass, D, ofsoft material, as cotton, fabric, felt, or chamois leather, technicallytermed a buff- Wheel, holding the Watch-back in various positionsthereto. The soft material rubs' across its surface, and entering bygentle pressure a little into the everal depressions c, delicatelyrounds the edges of all the raised parts b, as indicated by b. Thischanges the eiiect. The decorated surface now shines in all positions inwhich it may be held if there is a sufficient quantity of light thrownon it in any direction. By applying any suitable staining ma terial, G,the spaces c are given any desired tint, and the stain is wiped from thehigh portions b while it is fresh. Finally, the whole surface is coveredwith athin and highlytransparent lacquer, H. The decoratedsurface thusproduced differs materially from any before lOO known to me both in themode of its manuwhich consists in photo-etching, staining the factureand in' the decorative effect produced. sunk and roughened portions, androunding The designs may be varied indefinitely. the edges thereof bybufng.

' hat I claim as my invention is- In testimony whereofhavesigned my name15 5 1. The method of decorating metl, substanto this specification inthe presence of two sul)4 tially as hereinbel'ore set forth, whichconsists scribing Witnesses. in plating` with a different metal,photograph- T r ing designs thereon in resist, etching the ex- JOHD RAYAES' posed surfaces and bufng the edges thereof. Vitnesses: 1o 2. Themethod of decorating metallic sur- P. KEMBLE, Jr.,

faces, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, BERNARD J. KELLY.

